BlackBerry has been working on a top secret phone internally code-named Windermere, and BGR has learned exclusive details about this peculiar smartphone from multiple trusted sources. For starters, the phone is much wider than any other BlackBerry, and there are some reasons why. The keyboard is not just a regular BlackBerry keyboard — it features three rows of keys instead of the traditional four and all of the keys are touch sensitive. Think of the keyboard app Swype on Android to get an idea of what we mean and how you can use this keyboard.

The keys are physical keys that you can press and type on, but you can also swipe gestures over them and this is how you would access numbers, symbols, accent keys and more. It works very much like how the BlackBerry Z10 and Z30 onscreen keyboards function.

Additionally, because the display and phone are so much wider than any previous models, we are told BlackBerry has toyed with the idea of letting users run two apps on screen simultaneously side by side.

BlackBerry is currently working with a large partner that is interested in the Windermere. We have heard rumors about this partner, but have not been able to confirm with a second source the company BlackBerry is working with. We are told the device would be manufactured and make it out of the prototype phase only if the partner decides to move forward with the phone.

BGR has learned from multiple sources that Executive Vice President Andrew Bocking is no longer with the company. What is unconfirmed, however, is whether Bocking was fired or decided to leave on his own accord. One source of ours tells us he was let go and that BlackBerry is rolling up the BBM group into the enterprise unit and that Andrew was displeased with BlackBerry as whole, replacing his personal phone with an Android phone instead of using one of BlackBerry’s products. Another source of ours, however, firmly denies Andrew was fired and that him leaving is “a big loss” for the BBM division and he was poached by a competitor. Either way, this doesn’t bode too well for one of BlackBerry’s only remaining products that’s still of interest. We reached out to BlackBerry and they provided the following statement to BGR:

I can confirm that Andrew Bocking, EVP, BBM has made the decision to leave BlackBerry. We thank him for his years of leadership and contribution.

Andrew Bocking is pictured in the photo above to the right of ex-CEO Thorsten Heins.

I don’t think I have the words for this, but here we go… Thanks to a close source of ours, we have received pictures and information about one of BlackBerry’s upcoming lower cost handsets, codenamed Kopi. We’re told that this model is set to come in at an even lower price than the BlackBerry Q5, and will feature a faster processor to boot. It won’t have LTE, though it will have a removable battery! Look at it — a Palm Pixi crossbred with a Q5 and it’s not exactly going to win any style awards. More →

This would have been a much bigger deal a couple years back, but BlackBerry Messenger is indeed coming to iOS and Android later this year, and we now have the first photo of what it will look like. This picture is of the login screen on a Samsung Galaxy S3 — unfortunately we can’t show more due to identifying marks, though we are told that the software “isn’t bad” and should be released in the not-too-distant future. BlackBerry has publicly announced that BlackBerry Messenger for iOS and Android is set to be released sometime before the end of summer. BGR exclusively reported that BlackBerry was building BlackBerry Messenger for iOS and Android over two years ago. More →

Samsung will be holding a press event tomorrow morning in New York City, and according to our sources at Samsung, the focus will be on Samsung’s Smart TV product. We’re told that a performance or two will accompany the Smart TV and home theater announcements in addition to a full presentation from Samsung executives.

Apple (AAPL) is wildly expected to introduce a smaller 7.85-inch iPad mini at the company’s event on Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean a newer iPad isn’t making its way towards production for release in the spring. We have received photos of what we’re told is the 4th generation iPad’s lightning dock connector. The photo compares the 4th generation iPad’s dock to the iPad mini dock, and the connector looks to be a brand new design. This most likely signals that the 4th generation iPad will also feature a redesigned interior to accommodate different components. We were also told that this is not simply the refreshed lightning dock connector for the 3rd generation iPad. We’ll have much more shortly. Thanks to Apple.pro and the Apple Musium Taiwan

BGR has learned that Sony Electronics (SNE) is making plans to sell the company’s famed 550 Madison location in New York in order to raise money, according to a close source of ours. An internal email was sent to Sony executives detailing the plans recently, and Sony is currently considering a few different scenarios. We are told the selling price of the building will be in the $1.5 billion to $2 billion range. Sony Electronics is now making plans to sell the building and potentially lease back space for it’s various business units like Sony Electronics, Sony Music, and others, or completely move to another location entirely. Sony is coming off of four straight annual losses, and is “very mindful” of its cash position.

When Microsoft (MSFT) announced earlier this year that it will launch an own-brand tablet to compete directly with its various vendor partners working on Windows 8-based on tablet PCs of their own, there was some backlash. Privately — and sometimes even publicly — long-time Microsoft partners took it as an attack on their businesses and questioned why Microsoft would be so brazen. But with nowhere else to turn thanks to Windows’ overwhelming PC dominance, these vendors had no choice but to continue developing Windows 8 devices and compete directly with their software supplier. Though events may play out a bit differently in the smartphone market where Microsoft has yet to stage the comeback it promised two years ago, BGR has learned that the Redmond, Washington-based company plans to release its own Windows Phone 8 smartphone in the coming months. More →

It seems UPS and FedEx can’t hold these back, because we’re getting emails that people and stores are starting to get (AAPL) iPhone 5 shipments. Here’s a look at the black version that was freshly unboxed just a couple minutes ago…

We have checked with a number of AT&T (T) sources, and so far, the only thing that looks to be showing up is iPhone 5 cases from Speck. No Lightning to USB cables, no Lightning adapters and not even any car chargers. It looks like Apple (AAPL) kept its Lightning charging specification secret, just like rumors suggested. Here are a few different iPhone 5 cases you’ll be able to purchase tomorrow, though we’d courteously ask you to refrain from using a case this time. Please?

Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone 5 launches on Friday but we have been sent photos of the world’s first iPhone 5 unboxing. Apple has changed its packaging slightly with the iPhone 5, and as it announced last week, the company’s new EarPod headphones are bundled with the iPhone including a plastic travel case. Also included is a new power adapter that supplies more power to the phone when charging, and of course the Lightning to USB cable. Apple’s iPhone 5 goes on sale this Friday at 8:00 a.m. local time and in the meantime, be sure to check out a couple additional unboxing photos in the gallery below. Thanks to JDazzle for the photos!